Packaging with embedded security measures

ABSTRACT

A package for articles such as consumer goods that comprised security measures embedded within the package itself in order determine authenticity of goods is described. The package preferably comprises a packaging substrate material laminated to a face sheet having the security measures. The package may be printed with graphical indicia. The package may be authenticated by viewing the security measures, which may preferably be visible only under ultraviolet or laser light.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/509,177 filed on Oct. 7, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to packaging materials with embedded security measures, and more specifically to a multi-layer laminate of paperboard containing authentication mechanisms which may be used to develop secure packaging.

BACKGROUND

Technology advances and the lowering of trade barriers continually enhance the growing global economy. Such growth has led to increased traffic of consumer goods through international trade channels. However, with the increase of consumer good traffic, problems have arisen with gray market goods, criminal subversion, and/or counterfeiting.

Often when crossing international borders, goods are stopped for inspection by local customs authorities. The United States Customs Department allows for U.S. registered trademark holders to record trademarks with the customs authority. When goods bearing the recorded mark or a mark substantially similar to the recorded mark enter the United States, they are stopped by the customs authority and inspected for authenticity. The sophistication of counterfeit goods and the existence of gray market goods and parallel imports has made it difficult for customs inspectors to determine which goods are authentic and which are not. Therefore, many manufacturers and trademark holders have turned to security measures associated with their product packaging and branding strategies to ensure authenticity of goods.

Recent methods of authentication of product packaging and brand protection have focused on adding authentication mechanisms to existing product packaging. These attempts at authentication include the use of labels or seals that are applied to the product packaging containing a security identifier. One example of such a security mechanism is the use of a hologram as an identifier of authenticity. Holograms may be printed on an adhesive label which can be placed on the product packages.

Current authenticity techniques are not foolproof, however, as sophisticated counterfeiters have developed techniques to copy security labels as well. . Other problems arise during customs inspections, requiring customs officials to inspect each individually labeled product. If the products are on a shipping pallet and not labeled in a manner easily inspectable by a customs official, the pallet may have to be completely unpacked in order to examine each security authentication label, requiring substantial time and effort on the part of customs officials.

Other attempts to prevent counterfeiting of packaged consumer goods include the use of security paper having certain security features, such as unique identifiers, as part of the packaging itself. However, security paper, which has a thickness of 0.002 inches and a weight of 28 to 30 lbs per ream, has been found to be too thin for use with most packaging. Problems occur during the package converting process as well as during handling of such packaging which may compromise the appearance of the packaging. The use of security paper also requires the gravure printing process in order to apply graphical indicia, such as trademarks and other product identifiers, to the packaging which is a process not commonly used by packaging converters.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the invention, a package comprises embedded security measures that readily allow authenticity of the packaged goods to be determined. Preferably, security measures, such as taggants or security threads, are embedded into a face sheet that is attached to the packaging substrate material used for forming the package. The face sheet is preferably paper having a refined surface. The security measures embedded in the face sheet are preferably only visible under ultraviolet light. Graphical indicia may be printed on the packaging so that it appears no different than any other type of package. The packaged goods can be quickly examined for authenticity by passing at least a portion of the package under ultraviolet or laser light and viewing the security elements.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, the package may be authenticated using a chemical pen. The chemical pen is used to mark the package and reacts with the face sheet to create a temporary marking. As the ink evaporates, the mark preferably disappears and the goods can be determined as authentic. The packaging therefore maintains its original appearance after being authenticated. The face sheet used to form the packaging and the chemical pen can be selected to create a specific color when the package is marked. If the chemical pen makes a mark of a different color than the one specified, or no mark at all, it can readily be determined that the goods are counterfeit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package according to certain embodiments of the invention under a UV light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to more effectively prevent counterfeiting of goods and identification of gray market goods, certain embodiments of the present invention comprise embedded security measures in a face sheet used to form the packaging itself. By incorporating security measures into the package 10, the entire package serves as the authentication device. Such packaging is preferably easily inspectable and recognizable as authentic.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable to inject security authentication measures directly into a face sheet. The face sheet is preferably a type of paper with a very refined surface such as label stock. The face sheet preferably ranges from 0.003 inches to 0.0042 inches thickness and from 55 lbs to 62 lbs per ream. These attributes of the face sheet make it preferable for laminating to a packaging substrate and substantially durable during the package converting process. The face sheet also is able to withstand handling of the package throughout the supply chain, from manufacture to retail, while maintaining an attractive appearance. Thus, the use of the face sheet to form secure packaging for consumer goods provides a refined package that both resists counterfeiting attempts and is appealing to consumers.

The face sheet may be placed on top of a packaging substrate such as paperboard, fiberboard, chip board, corrugated as well as others and preferably laminated. In order to laminate the face sheet to the packaging substrate of choice, both the face sheet and the packaging substrate are unwound from large industrial rolls and adhered together, preferably by polyvinyl acetate (PVA). This process forms a sheet or roll of finished material that can be used to form product packaging using conventional techniques by a packaging converter. The laminated substrate and face sheet may be used to form product packaging of any type.

Many consumer products are packaged using paperboard and corrugated materials. Such materials are typically formed in large sheets which may be cut to size in order to form the desired package. The face sheet, which is preferably applied to the packaging substrate, is formed at conventional paper mills and the process of producing a face sheet is well-known. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable to produce the face sheet with the authentication measures embedded within. This is preferably done by introducing the authentication measures into the face sheet production process. Such authentication measures or elements may include embedded threads or taggants 15. The face sheet, therefore, is preferably produced having the security threads and/or taggants embedded directly within.

The impact of counterfeiting is largely felt by manufacturers of brand oriented consumer goods. These goods are often packaged in a container having a unique combination of brand identifiers, colors and graphics. In some cases, these features of the packaging may be the primary methodology used by consumers to recognize desired products and selecting them for purchase. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the face sheet used to form the packaging may be printed with multi-color graphics 18 using standard printing techniques, such as offset lithography printing, commonly used by packaging converters, if desired. Such printing may involve the use of oil based inks which the face sheet according to certain embodiments of the invention can accommodate.

Once the face sheet has been produced, it can preferably be applied to a paperboard sheet of approximately the same dimension and laminated using standard lamination techniques. The resulting sheet of packaging board comprises security authentication measures within the material itself. The sheet of packaging board can be cut as desired and used to form product packaging of various designs. Such packaging would include, but is not limited to, packaging for automotive parts, cigarettes, liquor, compact disks, DVD's, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other goods known as fast-moving consumer goods.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the packaging board with embedded security mechanisms can be used to form any type of product packaging. Typically, the materials will be used to form a carton of some sort.

As stated above, the security measures may preferably include security threads, fibers, and/or taggants. As shown in FIG. 1, such security measures are preferably only visible under ultraviolet or laser light 20. The security mechanisms may be embedded into the face sheet of the packaging board to form coded data, which can be machine read. The coded data may provide either general or specific authentication information. Such data may include the manufacturer's name, the manufacturing location, and/or date of production, as well as any other desired information. The codes may be formed by a color coded pattern, preferably only visible under ultraviolet light or laser light. The combinations and permutations of security mechanisms and codes available according to certain embodiments of the present invention make counterfeiting of goods much more difficult than current security techniques. Moreover, the use of machine readable codes will preferably allow the easy identification of gray market goods. Furthermore, such coded information cannot be erased or altered and is virtually impossible to duplicate. The security mechanisms cannot be removed from the face sheet without destroying the packaging board.

Taggants may preferably provide additional security measures for fraud prevention according to certain embodiments of the present invention. Taggants which may be embedded into the face sheet of the packaging board are invisible to the human eye. However, when viewed under ultraviolet light, taggants may become visible in various colors. Color combinations of taggants may be used by manufacturers to develop authentication codes.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, the face sheet used to form packaging may comprise a security mechanism that reacts with a chemical pen to preferably create a temporary ink mark on the packaging. The ink mark will preferably remain on the surface of the packaging until the ink evaporates at which time the mark disappears. The packaging, thus, remains unaltered and attractive to the consumer but can still be authenticated. Such face sheet material and chemical pens are commercially available from Appleton Ideas.

It should be understood that the color of the pen can be specifically selected to mate with the particular face sheet material to create a unique color for authentication of goods. If, for example, a customs agent marks the packaging with a pen and a color other than the unique authenticating color or no color at all appears, the customs agent will be able to determine the goods are counterfeit.

The packaging according to certain embodiments of the present invention allow easy identification of authentic goods. In particular, by placing the authentication mechanisms throughout the packaging board, any portion of the package can be inspected for authentication purposes. For example, customs officials may inspect an entire shipping pallet of packaged products for authentication purposes by examining any portion of the packaged product, eliminating the need to unpack the entire pallet in the event authentication labels are not easily accessible. Gray market goods may also be identified by embedding machine readable codes into the face sheet of the packaging board which identifies attributes of the packaged goods such as manufacturing location or licensed territory. 

1. A package comprising: a material for forming the package comprising a plurality of laminates, the laminates comprising at least one packaging substrate and a face sheet; the face sheet comprising at least one security measure embedded within the face sheet; and graphical indicia printed on the package; wherein the security feature embedded within the face sheet allows the package to be authenticated.
 2. The package according to claim 1 wherein the face sheet thickness ranges from 0.003 to 0.0042 inches.
 3. The package according to claim 2 wherein the face sheet weight ranges from 55 to 62 lbs per ream.
 4. The package according to claim 1 wherein the graphical indicia comprises an oil based ink.
 5. The package according to claim 1 wherein the printing process used for applying the graphics to the package is offset lithography.
 6. The package according to claim 2 wherein the security measure comprises a taggant.
 7. The package according to claim 2 wherein the security measure comprises a colored security thread.
 8. The package according to claim 2 wherein the security measure comprises a multi-colored security threads.
 9. The package according to claim 2 wherein the package is authenticatable by marking the package with a chemical pen forming a colored mark which is visible only temporarily.
 10. The package according to claim 2 wherein the packaging substrate is corrugated.
 11. The package according to claim 2 wherein the packaging substrate is paperboard.
 12. A blank of material for creating a package comprising: a base packaging material; and a face sheet attached to the base packaging material; wherein a package formed from the blank will exhibit a temporary ink mark when marked by a chemical pen, the mark fading as the ink evaporates indicating the package is authentic.
 13. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the face sheet and chemical pen can be selected in combination to form a specific color when the package is marked using the pen in order to indicate authenticity of goods.
 14. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the face sheet is laminated to the base packaging material.
 15. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the face sheet is attached to the base packaging material by polyvinyl acetate.
 16. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the base packaging material is paperboard.
 17. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the base packaging material is corrugated.
 18. The blank of material according to claim 12 wherein the face sheet is at least 0.003 inches thick.
 19. The blank of material according to claim 18 wherein the weight of the face sheet is at least 55 lbs per ream.
 20. A package for articles comprising: a packaging substrate material; a face sheet having a thickness of at least 0.003 inches and a weight of at least 55 lbs per ream laminated to the packaging substrate material, the face sheet comprising taggants embedded within the face sheet visible only under ultraviolet light; the face sheet attached to the substrate material by polyvinyl acetate; and oil based graphical indicia printed on the outer surface of the package using offset lithography printing; wherein the authenticity of the package may be determined by passing at least a portion of the package under ultraviolet light and viewing the taggants. 